Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd October 2011.                         (Enclosure)

The minutes of the meeting held on 3rd October were agreed as a correct record of the decisions taken.

Councillor John Smith declared a personal interest as a Member of the Bourne Town Council with regard to agenda item 4, the Bourne Community Access Point.

Report Number HOF176 by Portfolio Holder Resources.              (Enclosure)

Decision:

Cabinet approves the following:

·                     The implementation of the Bourne Community Access Point (CAP) project (subject to planning approval)

·                     The preparation of specifications for the alterations to the Corn Exchange and subsequent award of contracts.

·                     The delegation for the negotiation of lease arrangements to the Strategic Director (Community and Environment) in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)            Report HOF176 from the Head of Finance.

2)            The project will integrate services from Lincolnshire County Council, South Kesteven District Council and Bourne Town Council to a single joint access point.

3)            The ability to give customers access to a wide range of council services in an improved customer environment at one location.

Other options considered:

The benefits of the Bourne Community Access Point include optimising the use of assets, sharing resources, improving the customer offer and providing key services. Should the project not proceed then there will be limited opportunities to realise the full benefits.

Report Number PLA914 by Portfolio Holder Economic Development.         (Enclosure)

Decision:

Cabinet approves the Draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document as set out in appendix A to report PLA914 for public consultation for a period of 8 weeks.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)            Report PLA914 from the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.

2)            The consultation is a statutory requirement to undertake public consultation as outlined in the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 (as amended).

3)            The Supplementary Planning Document seeks to ensure that contributions will only be sought from development where there is a recognised need to mitigate the impact of the development proposal.

4)            Comments made by Members at the meeting concerning minor amendments required to the document and emphasising that the document was currently only in draft form and could be influenced by responses received during the consultation period.

5)            The Planning Obligations SPD is intended to provide policy support for securing Section 106 contributions in the interim period between now and the adoption of a CIL

Other options considered:

The Adopted Core Strategy provides the overarching policy framework within which this SPD complies. Policy SP4: Developer Contributions, sets out the Council’s position with regard to Planning Obligations.

Policy SP4 also states that the Council intends to charge a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) throughout the District. The authority intends to develop a CIL by 2014. There is not a statutory obligation to do so, however, failure to put a CIL in place by his date will leave the Council disadvantaged as the use of Planning Obligations will be scaled back from 2014, limiting the ability to secure contributions towards infrastructure improvements without a CIL in place. The CIL will replace Planning Obligations as the mechanism for securing contributions towards providing infrastructure to support new development.  Under current CIL arrangements affordable housing will continue to be secured through Section 106 Agreements, although the option of bringing this within the scope of CIL is the subject of a current Government consultation.

Report Number PLA912 by Portfolio Holder Economic Development.         (Enclosure)

Decision:

Cabinet approves the following:

1)            the adoption of the draft Stamford Conservation Area Appraisal and;

2)            the recommended boundary changes.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)            Report PLA912 from the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.

2)            The Conservation Area appraisal provides an overview of the historic development of Stamford and an analysis of its special architecture and historic character.

3)            Local authorities have a duty to review the overall extent of conservation area designations in their area regularly.

4)            Comments made by Members at the meeting to include reference to the other conservation area situated in the Stamford area.

Other options considered:

The Council is required by Section 72 of the 1990 Act to produce character appraisals and to publish proposals for their management. This is the first Conservation Area appraisal document produced for Stamford which contains a comprehensive analysis of its special architectural and historic character since it was designated in 1967. The document is necessary to provide a basis for sustainable planning decisions which will preserve and enhance the character of the Conservation Area.

Not to amend the boundary. However, this would constitute a missed opportunity to include areas which are of sufficient architectural quality to merit protection and would positively contribute to the overall character of the Conservation Area and to exclude peripheral areas of insufficient interest as set out in Section 3 of the report. These alterations will ensure that the boundary is robust and justifies its status as an area of special historic and architectural importance.

Decisions CO29, CO30 and CO31 as made on 7th November 2011 can be implemented on 16th November unless subject to call-in by the Scrutiny Committee Chairman or any five members of the Council from any political groups.